]]>Did you know that John Wilkes Booth’s brother once saved Robert Todd Lincoln’s life? Or that Michigan and Ohio went to war? Or that the 18th-century governor of New York used to dress up like Queen Anne?

This book is everything that you never learned in a history class: early campaign mudslinging (John Adams’s people said that Jefferson would burn Bibles and outlaw marriage while the Jefferson camp claimed that Adams planned to start a new royal line as King John I), embarrassing family members (Jimmy Carter’s brother judged a world belly flop competition and endorsed a beer), presidential pets (including some alligators), the history of high heels (not just for women!), and more.

They say that truth is stranger than fiction, and Rhatigan proves it with this laugh-out-loud history of the world. Even the biggest history buffs are sure to learn something as the book travels from the American heartland to the steppes of Asia and back with humorous and completely true anecdotes.Bizarre History is a must-read for everyone who thought that high school history was lacking a little something. This hilarious collection of historical footnotes certainly kept me turning its pages!

]]>Did you know that tea was discovered 5,000 years ago? Or that “high tea” was originally an evening meal? Or that chamomile isn’t really tea?

In her book Tea Culture: History, Traditions, Celebrations, Recipes & More, Beverly Dubrin covers many tea-related topics—from a brief history of the discovery of tea to information about different kinds of tea and their respective health benefits. Readers will discover a wealth of information about the drink and how people have consumed it over the centuries. Dubrin, a longtime tea fan, gives tips on how to steep different types of tea and how to get the best-tasting beverage.

In addition to fun informational snippets, Tea Culture includes dozens of full-page photographs with subjects ranging from 19th-century tea drinkers to tea plantation workers. Dubrin also includes recipes for different types of tea drinks as well as some sandwiches and snacks to make every tea party complete! For our own tea party here at the Post, we decided to try two recipes from the book—Spicy Apple Tea and Marion’s Dream Bars. They were both delicious! In fact, we liked them so much that we decided to include the recipes elsewhere on the site.

As someone who drinks tea in part to alleviate blinding headaches, I particularly appreciated the section of the book on the health benefits. Much is made of its miracle effects on such serious problems as heart disease and cancer, as well as its power in calming anxiety, aiding digestion, and lowering blood pressure; it’s good to get the true story and learn about which teas and tisanes help with specific ailments.